If I Replace the Driver Seat… Question.

Re: If I Replace the Driver Set… Question.

In the end no one will care except you if you get a side impact. If you don't you are cool. BTW I agree the main thing Toyota needs to do to make this car great is improve the seat. The present seat is OK but I want more than OK. I use a lumbar support I got at our "Take Care Store" it is gray and fits in but I could do better.

 

Re: If I Replace the Driver Set… Question.

I could not agree with you more. Although I find the seats reasonably comfortable, my wife as passenger absolutely hates them. We sold a 2001 Volvo Cross Country that had both driver and passenger power seats that were infinitely adjustable, including height. They were very comfortable. "Time For" is also absolutely correct when he states that the seats do not go back far enough. There is more than enough room to add an extra 2 or 3 inches. If the concern is lack of leg room for back seat passengers, then move the seat forward if you have them. My wife also had to get a separate lumbar support and have an expensive custom made cushion that adjusted the angle of the seat.

I really love my Prius and have been very happy with it, but it truly needs better seats.

Alan

 

Couldn't you go to a body shop and have the track that the seat rides on moved back a few inches? It'd cut your rear seat legroom, but you'd then get the room you seek in the front.

I know things like that are done for NBA players all the time.

Ken

 

Ken:

I will check out the body shop suggestion, but I was told by the dealer and one after market seat and accessory installer that it is illegal for them to modify the seat mounting system. Is this actually true? I don't know but I'll find out.

Alan

 

I had never heard of it being illegal. I'm sure there are some liability issues for the dealer...but a body shop just may not care.

 

If you decide to do the job yourself(and for anybody thinking of removing your airbag equiped seat) be sure to disconnect the 12 volt battery and wait about 5 minutes before starting any work. You need to let the capacitors discharge in the SRS(Suplemental Restraint System,name for airbag system) before doing any work or disconnections to the system. Wouldn't want to be suprised by the bag going off :wink:

 

One problem with relocating or replacing the seat: the seat position sensor for the airbag.
There is a sensor to tell how far forward the seat is, so it can adjust airbag deployment accordingly.

That might be one of the reasons for not having telescoping steering.

 

I have given this some considerable thought. Karl Malone wanted a Tacoma when the 4 door came out. They had tracks made that move the seat back,
I don't know who did it. I know the cost was outrageous. Then when it was delivered to him he didn't like it. Karl said "It's to small"(we tried to tell him).

It can be done. The airbags are the problem. If you could do the crash testing then you could get it perfect. I think your going to have to disable the
SRS. We won't know how costly this will be till it's to late. Wife, kids, or just
the driver. It is not going to be something that you can easily turn on&off. If you leave the airbag unplugged than you will turn on the light and the SRS is disabled. So when you crash you will have an untested SRS system that is untested & or no air bags for anyone.

The Insurance Company of the person that is liable for the injurys in your vehicle that you disabled, will pay the claim & send it straight to the legale dept. Hope you and or your family has a good lawyer and or no assets.